Fluid dispenser



. 9, 1941. A. E. SPENCER ETAL FLUID DISPENSER Filed April 19, 1939 Eig 2 INVENTORS HETHUE E: SPENCER HUL B- HUNT BY ig/4 1115/2 ATTORNi-IY Patented Dec. 9,1941

FLUID DISPENSER Arthur E. Spencer and Paul B. Hunt,

- San Francisco, Calif.

Application April 19, 1939, Serial No. 268,686

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Our invention relates to the dispensing .of fluids from aclosed container, such as a bulb.

It is among the objects of our invention to provide means for dispensing a measured quantity of fluid from the container.

Another object is to provide means responsive to the rising level of fluid being dispensed into a receptacle for limiting the quantity of fluid flowing from the dispensing container.

A further object is to provide means for dispensing fluid from a container having resilient walls, such as a rubber bulb, without having to do more than initially squeeze the bulb.

Still another object is to provide means for preventing dripping of fluid from an inverted container after flow has stopped.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of our invention. It is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to this disclosure of species of our invention, as we may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope. of the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an inverted dispensing device embodying the improvements of our invention. A receptacle into which fluid is being dispensed is also shown in dotted lines.

Figure 21s a similar view showing a modified apparatus; and

Figure 3 shows the same in titled position.

Figure 4 illustrates our improvements embodied in a dispensing bulb.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the bulb stem, taken in a plane indicated by line 5-5 of Figure 4.

In terms of broad inclusion, our fluid dispenser comprises a container for holding fluid, a duct for discharging fluid from the container into a receptacle, and a duct for admitting air to displace the fluid in the container and adapted to extend into the receptacle for stopping discharge of fluid when the fluid level in the receptacle rises to the mouth of the air duct. A gauge is also preferably provided for regulating the fluid level to control the quantity of fluid being dispensed. In our preferred apparatus the fluid discharge duct is arranged to form a siphon, and the air duct projects into the space above the fluid in an inverted container. By this arrangement the excess fluid in the siphon duct flows back into the container wh'en discharge has stopped and the ping of fluid from the unit. In a simplified dispenser embodying our invention the fluid conper; the ducts being preferably integral to form a unitary stem for the bulb.

In greater detail, and referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, a simple embodiment of our inventlon comprises a container or bottle 2 of suitable material, such as glass, for holding a supply of liquid 3 to be dispensed. A stopper 4 of suitable material, such as rubber, is provided in the neck of bottle 2 and provides a closure for retaining the fluid when the container is inverted in dispensing position.

An outlet duct 6 of suitable material, such as glass, is provided for discharging fluid from container 2 into receptacle 1, the latter being indicated in dotted lines and representing any receiver for the fluid 8 being dispensed. Discharge duct 6 extends downwardly from the closure to project into receptacle I, and the upper end of the tube terminates adjacent the inner surface of the stopper. A second duct 9 of suitable material, such as glass, extends downwardly from the stopper alongside duct 6, so that the lower ends of both ducts terminate adjacently. Tube 9 is an air inlet or vent duct for supplying air to displace the fluid discharging from container 2, and this duct extends upwardly from the closure to project into the space above the fluid in the inverted container.

As soon as the bottle is inverted, fluid flows out through duct Ii into receptacle I by reason of the inflow of air through duct 9. When duct 9 is closed to stop further inflow of air, the pressure in the space above fluid 3 in the container reduces to a point where discharge of fluid through duct 6 ceases. We depend upon this principle to stop the discharge, and utilize the rising level of fluid in receptacle 1 to seal oil the mouth of air duct 9. When the fluid level reaches the mouth of tube 9 the fluid 8 is drawn up into the tube to a height indicated at II, at which point; the column of fluid in tube 9 balances that in tube 6.

In this condition of equilibrium the whole unit may be lifted, and by reasonably careful handling may be carried in inverted position without discharge of fluid. By uprighting the bottle there of course is no danger of discharge, and when the bottle is again inverted the flow starts immediately and continues until the level of fluid B apparatus is tilted slightly, thus preventing drip- 5 again reachesthe mouth of air duct 9.

It is thus seen that the extent to which air 3 duct 9 projects into receptacle 1 determines the 1 level at which dispensing will stop, and an operator may therefore control the dispensing action 3 by regulating the inward projection of tube 3 j into the receptacle. This is a highly desirable feature, because in instances where the rising fluid level cannot be observed our dispenser auto- I level.

sage is suilicient to supply adequate air. a small vent passage oifers greater resistance to i upward flow of liquid therein, and therefore less fluid is required in the vent duct to balance the 1 column in discharge duct 6. 1 resistance of a small vent passage to liquid .flow Q matically cuts oil the flow at a predetermined Vent tube 9 is preferably of smaller diameter Figure 4 shows the principles of Figure 2 embodied in a more compact construction wherein a rubber bulb 25 functionsas the fluid container.

, In this case we preferably provide an integral than discharge duct 6 because a small vent pas-- M Bakelite.

Also

eifects a more stable balance when the dispenser I is removed from the receptaclathereby making- 1 accidental discharge of fluid less-likely.

Figures 2 and 3 show a modified arrangement This bulb provides Once the siphon has been started by a slight s queeze of bulb l9 it continues'to run in accordance with ordinary siphon principles. The

fluid flowing out is displaced by air flowing in Furthermore, the

i embodying additional improvements. In this 1 case a container l2, vent tube l3 and stopper l4 are provided as in the previous construction. Discharge tube I6 is modified however and prostem 26' having duct passages 21 and 28. Passage2l forms the air vent, and passage 28 in V the fluidvoutlet, th latter being doubled back at the topto form a siphon. Stopper 29 is also integral with the stem and has a peripheral ,flange 3| for ,interengaging the grooved neck of the bulb. 'Ihe'stem and stopper unit may be' formed from any suitable material,- such as Sucha device looks like an ordinary syringeas Fluid is drawn into the bulb in the usual manner of filling a syringe, and when discharge is desired thebulb is squeezedslightly to start the siphon. Once thesiphon is started no further squeezing of the bulb is necessary, as is requiredmatically stop .the' discharge. This is' an important feature in supplying fluid to a receptacle through vent duct l3, and as long as the air inj flow is not interrupted the siphon will continue 1 to discharge fluid 2| from the container. Howiever, when fluid level 22 closes the mouth of f duct 13 the air is cut off and fluid is drawn up 1 into the vent duct to a height such. as indicated at 23 where the columns of fluid in the two ducts 1 are balanced. The unit may now be lifted with- 1 out further discharge of the fluid.

An important feature ofthis siphon arrange ment is that subsequent tipping of the unit from the vertical causes the fluid in discharge duct l6 to be drawn back up into the container so that the siphon will not start unless bulb is is again compressed. Figure 2 shows a fluid head the fluid head :rhas shortened. I .This differenltial upsets the balance'and since the pressure above the fluid in the container is below. atmos- -pheric, the fluid in duct 16, having less resistance 1 to flow than that in small vent tube I3, is drawn back into the container. lower .end 24- of the fluid column induct i6 3 after it has started moving upwardly.

Figure 3 shows the We have found that the fluid in duct i6 is or jarring will cause dis- ;z: above the innerend of the siphon when the fluid columns are balanced. Figure 3 illustratesv 5. 1 the'unit tilted from the vertical, and shows that filling batteries, where water is. introduced to bring the electrolite up to a certain predetermined level in all cases. For purposes of adjustment however we prefer to mount gauge bar 32 on a sleeve 33 slidable along the stem. As shown in Figure 5, a set screw 34 on the sleeve is provided'to lock the gauge at a selected height.

For additional flexibility in the use of the dispenser unit, we also pivot gauge bar 32 on sleeve 33 by a screw 35. so that stem 26 may be tilted to I facilitate insertion ofthe latter into a receptacle. By tightening up screw 35 the gauge bar is held fixed in a selected inclined position. This allows the gauge bar to lie flat on the mouth of a receptacle while the stem is tilted. For example, in filling batteries the inaccessible location ofthe battery in an automobile is often such that insertion of stem 26 at an angle is required.

Our fluid dispenser has many other useful applications, particularly. for theintroduction of fluids into receptacles having opaque walls and small inlets where it is impossible to see the fluid level in the container. problem by automatically filling the receptacle to a predetermined level. The improved .dis-

penser units are also usefulfor introducing I measuredquantities of different fluids into a re-' ceptacle when fluid mixtures are being compounded. Thus, one fluid may be introduced to a predetermined level as determined by a given setting of gau e 32. Another. fluid may thenbe, introduced to a predetermined higher level by a different setting of gauge 32 on the same 7 provides means for accurately compounding the Our dispenser solves this Another advantage of the dispenser is found in the handling of acids and alkalies, where dripping o! the fluid from a dispenser after withdrawal from a receptacle is highly undesirable. Our unit with the fluid suction action in the discharge duct positively prevents accidental discharge of fluid, even though the dispenser is moved violently about in the inverted position.

We claim:

l. A fluid dispenser comprising a resilient bulb for holding fluid, a siphon for discharging fluid from the bulb and having its looped portion lying wholly within the bulb, and an air vent for the bulb.

2. A fluid dispenser comprising a resilient bulb for holding fluid, a closure for the bulb, a pair of ducts depending from the bulb through said closure, one of said ducts providing a fluid outlet and the other providing an air inlet, the upper portions of the fluid outlet duct being looped back within the bulb to form a siphon.

3. A fluid dispenser comprising a resilient bulb for holding fluid, a closure for the bulb, a pair 1 of ducts depending from the bulb through said closure, one of said ducts providing a fluid outlet and the other providing an air inlet, the upper portions of the fluid outlet duct being looped 

